I just noticed that my Windows virtual machine is off by an hour.
No problem. I'll just download the KB931836 patch and fix it.
So, I begin by visiting the Windows Update site via IE. I get scanned, the site suggests I use express install to get up to date.
No thanks.
I'm running service pack 2 on XP Pro. It's a legal copy. It would blast through WGA authentication.
Except...
I refuse.
I think WGA is the single most contemptible way to treat customers that has ever been devised.
On Seinfeld, customers risk the wrath of the soup Nazi because his product is perfect.
Why would Windows users accept the same treatment for a product that is so fundamentally flawed?
I did some digging on Google to see what options a Windows user has in downloading the DST patch without WGA being involved.
One blog suggests downloading WGA, then simply refusing to agree to its EULA.
So I make sure my snapshot is a good one for my virtual machine and go for it.
The program downloads, then proceeds to move on to giving me the option of updating.
Where was the EULA? I restore to my machine's previous state and keep shopping.
This time, I decide to go ahead and look for SP3 for XP. That should handle the DST patch, and every other security update.
Guess what. Microsoft wants to install WGA before I can download.
Big shock.
So I do some more googling. I find softwarepatch.com, which allows the downloading of the entire 317 MB service pack without authentication.
Looking over the EULA, it says that i must accept the fact that my software will be authenticated. I accept it for now.
After the install and a reboot, all looks okay. I decline the offer to turn on automatic updates.
So it appears that I have managed to install SP3 on XP Pro without WGA.
But who knows for sure?
Oh, one last thing.
My virtual machine is STILL off by an hour.
Comments (1)
"I think WGA is the single most contemptible way to treat customers that has ever been devised."
Please do extrapolate on this subject, I am interested to here what you have to say.
"On Seinfeld, customers risk the wrath of the soup Nazi because his product is perfect."
So close to a Godwin.
Posted by The WHAM Burglar | March 15, 2010 7:30 PM
Posted on March 15, 2010 19:30